I'm still around-MRM

[MRM]

Hi everyone:

It's been about a year now since I've last been on the site...I'm embarrassed to say... SlideruleEra asked me about how my first year went at Gonzaga University back in 2014. I'm so sorry I missed that! It seems like I do one of these updates every couple years lately...

I've been great, but busier than ever imagined I could/would be. It's not because of my responsibilities at GU though; it's these kids!!

We've got an 8 and 4 year old, and an 18 month old now. It's a circus everyday, but I love it, of course. Honestly, most of my free time is making sure: a) no kid harms/injures another kid, b) no kid harms himself/herself by falling off a kitchen chair or any other creative way they've devised to hurt themselves, and especially c) being a short order cook! I try to give my wife as many breaks as I can when I'm home; I've got the easy job when I'm on campus (it's only because I enjoy the heck out of every minute there with my students though!). She's got the tough one. I do sometimes try to make my work sound a little tougher than it really is when I'm describing it to her-please don't tell her. I like to try to give her as much time to herself as possible though-she does so much for us.

I'm sure this is nothing new to many of you with kids though. So besides a glass of nice red wine in the evening with your spouse, anyone have any hints, shortcuts to doing more, etc.?? Should we switch to anything harder?

I have to say that GU is turning out to be the place I see myself for the long haul though! Things worked out just as they were supposed to, it would seem.

So I'm great! I sure hope everyone else is doing well too.

 

[SlideRuleEra]

MRM - Good to hear from you again! I have developed a simple math formula that explains why a lot about children. A friend of ours (PhD in phycology) says it is probably about right:

1 child = 1 unit of "trouble".

Total children "trouble" is proportional to the square of the number of children... up to a point.

i.e. 2 children = 4 units of "trouble".

For your situation, 3 children = 9 units of "trouble".

I have been advised by friends and relatives with large families that 4 children = 16 units of "trouble"... but for practical purposes 16 units = infinity. For five or more, the number remains 16 units.

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

http://www.VacuumTubeEra.net

 

[MRM]

It's 8:14am here and the kids are temporarily content with their breakfasts for now...but I have to hurry!

I could definitely buy in to the "trouble units" theory you've outlined there, SRE. Seems about right to me, up to the three children anyway... Three is definitely different than one, my wife and I have found.

What really amazes me, though, is that our lives, with three children, isn't as hectic as it really could be...both sets of my Grandparents had more; 5 kids on my Mom's side, and 9 on my Dad's side! They would probably laugh at us, I suppose!

 

[BigH]

But MRM - things were simpler back "in the days" than they are now . . . good to hear from you. I see that Gonzaga just hired that Professor from Missou . . .

Good to hear that you are busy and all that - what particular subjects are you teaching? Research areas??

Cheers

 

[MRM]

Hi BigH. Maybe so...but my Grandparents never had ipads and other gadgets to keep the kids entertained for two minutes while Dad does his lecture prep for that day. How did they do it??

This semester is soil mechanics, with lab; one that I always enjoy, of course!

I've got several irons in the fire when it comes to research lately. It's one more year until I go up for tenure, so although I've been steadily publishing, I'm also putting in another nice push to hopefully make it an easy decision for my committee members when the time comes.

I'm hoping to speak at the U of Minn conference in 2017 if things work out right. I've got some DCP results, including some newly obtained results, with some decent correlations I think most folks would find interesting. I've had a little forum article recently accepted about the business side of geotech engineering for high-end residences on lakefront sites (often soft soils). I've submitted #3 of 4 PhD-related follow up papers. I'm about to submit a particle shape characterization-related paper, and a separate discussion on another recent paper on the topic. I'm working on something related to construction practices in Spokane for low-income housing with my seniors. I guess a variety of things; mostly very applied, practical topics. I doubt I'll be finding the quantum-Newtonian physics link anytime soon...mostly because I'm not interested in doing so!

My main focus is to be there for my students, though. I seem to be doing okay with that, but I'm sure that I'm improving all the time!

What's new on your end, BigH, SRE, and others?

 

[SlideRuleEra]

This summer have been "dodging" tropical storms and hurricanes. So far, three have threatened the Charleston area; all have all passed us by... but peak of the season is this week.

On the (retired) professional side, recently performed a pro bono feasibility study for a "dog park" in an established residential community. They don't have anywhere near the 15 acres or a few hundred thousand dollars needed to perform the substantial earthwork for a suitable outcome.

After several years of indecision, one of my younger cousins has decided not only to go the college but pursue a PhD. in Physics. Encouraged him this summer to continue. He is currently a junior at Portland State University and doing well.

Along this same line, the Citadel has initiated a (first time) mentoring program for their engineering students. I have volunteered to participate. The kick-off meeting is next week, will be interesting to see how that develops.

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

http://www.VacuumTubeEra.net

 

[BigH]

Good for you SRE! You really retired???

 

[MRM]

That's great, SRE-both about dodging those storms AND about your new adventures in giving back in some big ways!!